"Digital opportunity for kids is the equity issue of the 21^st century," explains a new report from the Children's Partnership. While education is a primary concern for technology equity, the report points out that access to and the ability to use technology is essential for healthcare, job applications, civic participation and numerous forms of self-advocacy.

Organizations for advocating children, and the children they serve, could also benefit from more sophisticated use of technology tools.

The report puts forth a National Digital Opportunity Action Agenda for Children:

• Prepare children for the 21st century. Establish 21st century skills as a national priority for children and integrate them into teaching at schools, in afterschool programs, and at libraries or other places children spend their time.
• Equip children with digital tools at home. Provide financial incentives to help low-income families acquire home computers and affordable broadband; and encourage their use at home to pursue educational, health, and other opportunities for youth.
• Support parents in today's technology-based world. Support the development of model digital literacy efforts, online safety education, and other technology training to help parents guide their children wisely in the online world; and encourage businesses to offer technology training to their employees.
• Use the power of technology to improve the lives of children. Support the application of technology to improve the delivery of health and human services; use the Internet to provide information to families about public and private resources; and offer incentives to develop new technology applications that can make education, job training, health care, and social services more effective for children and families and more efficient for taxpayers.
• Establish accountability for the Digital Opportunity Agenda. Create a federal office to manage digital opportunity efforts across government, involve the private sector effectively in digital opportunity efforts, and track progress towards meeting national digital opportunity goals.

Source: The Children's Partnership, Information Technology Making a Difference in Children's Lives: An Issue Brief for Leaders for Children; Links to additional information are available at an introductory page.